Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Turkey: Religious Freedom

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Turkey about reports of discrimination against religious groups and places of worship, other than those recognized in 1923, in that country; and whether, in such discussions, they raised that any such discrimination is contrary to (1) the Turkish constitution, (2) international agreements on Freedom of Religion and Belief, and (3) the principles of NATO.

baroness sugg: The Turkish constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religion, regardless of an individual's citizenship. We regularly discuss with Turkey issues concerning freedom of religion and belief and encourage Turkey to live up to its international obligations. We will continue to engage the Turkish Government at all levels on these issues and to urge respect for Freedom of Religion or Belief, which are essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy. Defending persecuted Christians, and persecuted individuals of all faiths or beliefs, remains a long-standing priority for the British Government.

Syria: Armed Conflict

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Turkey about reports that it is attempting to change the ethnic demography in northern Syria by moving people from west to east across the Euphrates river; and what assessment they have made of reports that houses are being demolished and equipment is being stolen in Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain by Turkish backed forces.

baroness sugg: We have raised concerns with the Turkish Government over reports of human rights violations by Turkish backed forces in Syria, and have made clear that any attempt at demographic change would be unacceptable. We are aware of the reports relating in Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn but are not in a position to assess their validity. We consistently reiterate the importance of all parties to the Syrian conflict abiding by their obligations under international law.

Turkey: Coronavirus

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they plan to have with the Turkish Ambassador about the existence of safeguards to (1) prevent the abuse of constitutional rights by state agencies, and (2) uphold the intended purpose of Law No 7242, passed by the Parliament of Turkey on 14 April.

baroness sugg: We have regular discussions with the Turkish Government, including with the Turkish Ambassador to the UK, about the situation in Turkey including on human and constitutional rights. The amendments under law 7242 include provisions that are aimed both at lowering the prison population generally and, in response to COVID-19, a temporary release provision for convicts that are serving or have the right to serve time in a minimum security institution and those under supervised release. We encourage Turkey to ensure that these provisions are met.

Serbia: Ethnic Groups

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Serbia about reports that more than 4,000 Albanians in Medvegja and Bujanoc have been removed from the civil registry in Serbia, consequently rendering them stateless with no voting and other civil rights.

baroness sugg: The UK is aware of recent reports of the removal of ethnic-Albanians in southern Serbia from civil registries. Verifying these reports is complicated by high levels of migration and lack of agreed population statistics, but our Embassy in Belgrade is monitoring closely. Our Ambassador, with like-minded partners, has discussed with the Serbian Government the importance of fundamental rights and freedoms in the context of the forthcoming elections. We will continue to pursue this issue in the course of discussions with relevant national and local authorities in Serbia, as part of our ongoing work to promote and protect human and minority rights.

Azerbaijan: Military Exercises

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Azerbaijan has been conducting large-scale military exercises along the borders with Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh; and what representations, if any, they intend to make to that government about such exercises.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Azerbaijani troops used large-calibre weapons to fire at Berkaber village in Armenia’s Tavush Province on 13 May.

baroness sugg: The Government is aware of reports of military exercises being conducted in Azerbaijan by the country's military. As with the exercises of other countries in the region, we will continue to monitor this closely.We are also aware of ongoing reports of ceasefire violations along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. At this time of global crisis, the United Kingdom fully supports the UN Secretary General's call for an immediate global ceasefire in armed conflicts around the world. The United Kingdom would like to see a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and fully supports the efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in achieving that. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office regularly raises the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the authorities in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and will continue to do so.

Republic of Ireland: Coronavirus

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthey were consulted in advance by the government ofIrelandabout its decision to introduce a fourteen-day quarantine period on all passengers travelling to Ireland from Great Britain; and if so, when.

baroness sugg: We remain in regular contact at the highest levels with the Government of Ireland on our joint response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including discussions on the public health measures at the border.

Republic of Ireland: Coronavirus

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the operation of the Common Travel Area of the decisionby the government of Irelandto impose a fourteen-day quarantine period on people travellingfrom Ireland toGreat Britain.

baroness sugg: The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a long-standing arrangement between the UK, the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and Ireland. Both the UK and Irish Governments have committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure that these arrangements will continue to be protected.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to foreign governments for the inclusion of (1) refugees, (2) migrants, (3) unregistered persons, and (4) persons without legal documentation, in national public health responses.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We recognise that refugees and Internally Displaced People may be at higher risk of infection by COVID-19 and other diseases due to high geographical mobility, overcrowded conditions, lack of safe sanitation and already poor health outcomes, and have focused our advocacy and aid commitments accordingly, working with international partners. The UK has committed up to £764 million aid funding so far to support global efforts to combat COVID-19, which includes £276 million for supporting resilience in vulnerable countries. £145 million of this is focused on UN appeals, and support to particular vulnerable groups: £75 million for the WHO; £20 million for UNICEF and £5 million to Education Cannot Wait to help refugee, migrant and displaced children proving basic suppliers and lessons; £20 million for the UN Refugee Agency providing access to handwashing stations and drinking water for displaced people; £15 million for the World Food Programme; and £10 million to UNFPA to provide lifesaving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender based violence prevention. We have also adapted our bilateral programmes in a number of countries to respond to the particular challenges that COVID-19 presents to vulnerable communities. For example, in Bangladesh, UK aid is helping maintain essential humanitarian services in Rohingya refugee camps.

USA: Coronavirus

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of the United States to use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Business Response Facility to provide conditional grants to private healthcare companies to ensure that healthcare is freely accessible to low-income and disadvantaged groups.

baroness sugg: How the US manages its domestic COVID response is a matter for the US authorities. However, the UK remains in regular contact at the highest levels with our US partners on our joint response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, including discussions on how to deliver a global health response that provides support for the most vulnerable.

Burundi: Politics and Government

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the current political situation in Burundi, following the presidential elections on 20 May, and (2) how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Burundi.

baroness sugg: The UK welcomes the broadly peaceful conduct of the elections in Burundi on 20 May, and takes note of the provisional presidential and parliamentary results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on 25 May. We are, however, concerned by reports of violence against political party members during the electoral period. In advance of elections, the UK called on all parties to resolve electoral disputes through legal mechanisms and to ensure a peaceful post-electoral environment, through a joint statement with Germany, Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the EU and the United Nations Country Team. We are continuing to follow developments closely.The Burundi elections took place against the challenging context of the COVID19 pandemic. We have called on the Government to ensure necessary measures are implemented to limit the transmission of COVID-19. A Department for International Development humanitarian affairs officer is working with United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to support preparedness and contingency planning for COVID-19 in Burundi.

UN Security Council

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK’s responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, in particular with regard to the military enforcement of UN resolutions; and what assessment, if any, they have made of the military capability required by a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: As one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, the UK takes its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security very seriously. Through the Council we work hard to achieve constructive solutions to international crises, to promote British values and to confront threats to UK security.While there are no requirements placed on permanent members of the Security Council by the UN Charter to maintain a particular level of military capability, the UK is fully committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on defence. We have participated in a number of missions authorised to use force by the Security Council, including the UN Protection Force in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. We are the fifth largest contributor to the UN's peacekeeping budget, and contribute around 600 peacekeepers to UN operations. The UK is the lead contributor to the UN mission in Cyprus. In March 2020 we concluded a four-year troop deployment to South Sudan. Later this year, we will deploy a Long Range Reconnaissance Task Group to MINUSMA, the UN peacekeeping operation in Mali.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Pharmacy

lord mawson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the support required by pharmaciesduring the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps, if any, they are taking to ensure that any shortfall in such support is addressed.

lord bethell: Ministers and Government officials are working closely with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the representative body of pharmacy contractors, and NHS England and NHS Improvement to ensure that community pharmacies get the support they need to supply medicines and to help their communities stay well.

Water: Coronavirus

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of COVID-19 in sampled municipal water; and what plans they have to use that data to assess the impact of COVID-19 control measures.

lord bethell: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently engaging with the research community and Government scientific advisers to investigate whether monitoring COVID-19 in waste water could be used as a way of tracking the outbreak and assessing the impact of control measures. The World Health Organization is clear there is currently no evidence that the virus has been transmitted via sewerage systems.

Coronavirus

lord lipsey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in reporting COVID-19 deaths by location, whether the person’s home address, the hospital where there are treated, or some other factor determines the location recorded.

lord bethell: Public Health England (PHE) reports data on all deaths in people who have had a positive COVID-19 test result confirmed by a public health or National Health Service laboratory. These data include COVID-19 related deaths from all settings, in hospital or elsewhere, and geographical details of residence are assigned using the home postcode of the person who died.The Office for National Statistics is responsible for publishing mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales. The data is taken from information recorded on the death certificate. The geographical location of a death is assigned according to the address recorded as the usual residence of the deceased. The location of death (hospital, care home, etc) is assigned according to the information provided on the death certificate about the place of death.

Public Health: Immigrants

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to communicate healthcare messages to immigrant communities.

lord bethell: The COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection and COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 has been translated into 11 languages.We are constantly evaluating what more we can do to support different groups in society that have particular needs or face particular challenges.

Coronavirus: Screening

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what use is being made of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), is used in many laboratories to test patient samples for the COVID-19 virus.RT-PCR is used for detecting certain viruses to help diagnose infection. It is being used throughout the United Kingdom to detect the COVID-19 virus. RT-PCR makes millions of copies of a virus’ genetic material and these can be detected on laboratory equipment. If this equipment detects a signal, it means the test is positive (virus detected). If the equipment does not detect a signal, it means the test is negative (no virus detected).

Disease Control: Protective Clothing

baroness thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the UK's stockpile of personal protective equipment has decreased over the last ten years and, if so, what financial saving was made as a result.

baroness thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which stockpiles of personal protective equipment were replaced by 'just in time' supply arrangements over the past ten years.

lord bethell: The Department’s advisory Committee for New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) makes recommendations to the Government on what medicines and clinical consumables should be stockpiled for pandemic influenza preparedness including relevant scientific information that is used for estimating target stock levels. No assessment has been made of variance in the spend on personal protective equipment (PPE) over the past 10 years, therefore we are unable to estimate the financial savings made as a result.A small portion of the required FFP3 respirators and gloves have ‘just in time’ arrangements in place. The majority of the stockholding for these products and all other PPE is held in the stockpile on a ‘just in case’ basis.

Coronavirus

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in the UK they estimate will contract COVID-19 in 2020.

lord bethell: The number of people who contract COVID-19 in 2020 will depend on behavioural factors and future policy. The Government’s five tests will seek to ensure that COVID-19 cases are kept low, whilst enabling the economy to re-open. It is important that people keep alert to control the virus, and in doing so, we will save lives.

Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups

baroness lawrence of clarendon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with governments of other countries about the differential impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities; and what lessons they have learned from any such discussions.

lord bethell: The Department is regularly in discussions with other countries on a wide range of issues of issues relating to COVID-19. COVID-19 presents a global challenge which requires a collaborative response. The Department will continue to work with other countries throughout the crisis and beyond.Public Health England is undertaking a programme of stakeholder engagement as part of its review into the impact of COVID-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities; this has included the devolved nations. PHE continues to be committed to working with experts in the devolved nations to share learning and identify opportunities for collaboration. PHE is also working with the National Institute for Health Research to undertake an evidence review looking at the factors impacting health outcomes from COVID-19 on BAME communities. The scope of this work will include international evidence.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people are in the “very high risk due to a serious underlying health condition" category referred to in the leaflet enclosed with the letter from the Prime Minister updating recipients on the steps being taken to combat COVID-19.

lord bethell: Those identified as extremely clinically vulnerable are put on the Shielded Patient List, which is drawn from multiple sources. An initial list of patients with high risk conditions has been supplemented by general practitioners (GPs) and hospital consultants adding individual patients to the list based on their clinical assessments of each individual’s needs. The list is dynamic. People are added to the list as we learn more about the virus and expand the list of high-risk conditions, or as additional patients are added at their clinician’s discretion. Letters have therefore been issued at various stages during this process. We cannot give a precise date of when letters are issued or when they should have been received, but everyone who has been identified should now have been sent a letter either centrally by the National Health Service or by their local clinician.That number of people on the Shielded Patient List currently stands at 2.2 million people in England. If someone has not received a letter, then we would advise they contact their local GP or their hospital consultant in order to discuss this.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement in the leaflet enclosed with the letter from the Prime Minister updating recipients on the steps being taken to combat COVID-19 that “If you are at a very high risk due to a serious underlying health condition, you should have already received a letter from the NHS containing specific guidance about what to do”, between which dates was that letter to those at a very high risk despatched; what were the maximum number of days allowed, under any contractual arrangements, between date of despatch and date of delivery; to how many people that letter has been despatched; and from what source, or sources, was the list of people to whom that letter has been sent, obtained.

lord bethell: Those identified as extremely clinically vulnerable are put on the Shielded Patient List, which is drawn from multiple sources. An initial list of patients with high risk conditions has been supplemented by general practitioners (GPs) and hospital consultants adding individual patients to the list based on their clinical assessments of each individual’s needs. The list is dynamic. People are added to the list as we learn more about the virus and expand the list of high-risk conditions, or as additional patients are added at their clinician’s discretion. Letters have therefore been issued at various stages during this process. We cannot give a precise date of when letters are issued or when they should have been received, but everyone who has been identified should now have been sent a letter either centrally by the National Health Service or by their local clinician.That number of people on the Shielded Patient List currently stands at 2.2 million people in England. If someone has not received a letter, then we would advise they contact their local GP or their hospital consultant in order to discuss this.

Coronavirus: Gender

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the tweet by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 May that “There is emerging evidence to suggest that coronavirus may be having a disproportionate impact on some ethnic groups, as well as certain genders”, on what evidence they base their statement that gender affects the impact of COVID-19; what is their definition of gender when making that statement; how many affected genders they believe there to be; which are those affected genders; what consideration they gave to using the phrase “male” in place of “certain genders”; and what plans they have to use such a formulation in future.

lord bethell: The Government is concerned by the apparent disparities in how COVID-19 is affecting people. We have asked Public Health England to complete a rapid review to understand how COVID-19 may be having an impact on different groups of concern.Short descriptions of the terms ‘sex’, ‘gender’, ‘transgender’ and ‘gender identity’ have been published by the Government Equalities Office.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue new guidance on the admittance of patients at an earlier stage of showing symptoms of COVID-19 to improve survival rates.

lord bethell: The Government continues to be led by the evidence in our response to COVID-19. Public Health England has published guidance on the investigation and initial clinical management of possible COVID-19 cases, including on admission to hospital, which is kept under review. A copy of the latest guidance COVID-19: investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases is attached.In addition, a suite of guidance has been published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to ensure the best treatment for people with COVID-19.



COVID-19_ investigation
(PDF Document, 110.35 KB)

Coronavirus: Deaths

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is or are (1) the procedure, (2) the timetable, and (3) the rules, for adding COVID-19 related deaths (a) in care homes, and (b) in the wider community, to the total number of deaths announced each day.

lord bethell: Daily published statistics for COVID-19 related deaths in the United Kingdom consist of deaths with lab-confirmed COVID-19 in all settings. The UK figures are compiled from validated data provided by each of the four nations of the UK to the Department which brings the data together into a summary figure for the whole country.Data for deaths in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are provided by Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) respectively. Figures for England are provided by Public Health England (PHE) and draw together multiple data sources, including data from NHS England and NHS Improvement, National Health Service and PHE laboratory systems and PHE local health protection teams.In all settings, deaths are reported only if they are linked to a lab-confirmed COVID-19 test and reported as at 5pm the previous day. The time between occurrence of death and reporting may vary and, in some cases, could be a few days.

Social Services: Protective Clothing

baroness jolly: To ask Her Majesty's Government when specific personal protective equipment guidance for learning disability services will be published.

lord bethell: The United Kingdom Government and devolved administrations have published clear guidance on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for health and social care workers as well as specific patient use of PPE. This has been written and reviewed by all four UK public health bodies and informed by National Health Service infection prevention control experts and the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG).Our guidance is consistent with World Health Organization guidance for protecting health and social care workers from COVID-19. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives have played a lead role in developing the guidance.

Chorley and South Ribble Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans there are to reopen the accident and emergency department at Chorleyand South Ribble Hospital; and ifthere are any such plans, when that department will be reopened.

lord bethell: The accident and emergency department at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital has been temporarily modified to provide an urgent care level service. This is to safely manage the local response to COVID-19. This temporary change will be kept under review during the pandemic and services will be reinstated as soon as reasonably possible, based on local service needs.

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust: Private Sector

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many private ambulances are used by theNorth West Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

lord bethell: Data on usage of private ambulances is not held centrally. The use of private ambulances is decided at a local level by trusts and their commissioners based on capacity needs on a day to day basis.

Coronavirus: Travellers

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 21 April (HL3176), when health guidance for members of Gypsy, Traveller and Boater communities will be disseminated; and in what format.

lord bethell: We have been in close contact with Gypsy and Traveller Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations and are working hard to support these communities through the pandemic. VCS organisations have used existing Public Health England (PHE) guidance as a basis for producing targeted guidance and videos to inform and advise communities.In collaboration with the Local Government Association, Association of Directors of Public Health and NHS England and NHS Improvement, PHE has collated a suite of resources ‘COVID-19: Place-based approach to reducing health inequalities’ to complement existing work being led at a local level.On 11 April the Minister of State for Home Affairs and Housing, Communities and Local Government, the noble Lord Greenhalgh, wrote to all local authority chief executives to highlight that some Gypsies and Travellers may need specific support to enable them to access to essential basic amenities such as water, sanitation and waste disposal facilities. A copy of the letter is attached.



HL4385 letter
(PDF Document, 146.2 KB)

Exercise Cygnus

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions they took following the conclusion of Exercise Cygnus.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they took, following the conclusion of Exercise Cygnus, to ensure that the UK’s preparedness and response, in terms of its plans, policies and capability, was sufficient to cope with the extreme demands of a pandemic.

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they took, following the conclusion of Exercise Cygnus, to develop a plan to ensure that, in the event of a surge in patients, the health and social care sectors could make a quick decision on whether someone stays in hospital or is discharged to residential care, community care or home for treatment or care.

lord bethell: The lessons identified from Exercise Cygnus continue to be considered by the Government and a range of stakeholders, including expert advisory groups and local emergency planners.Working across Government and with stakeholders the lessons from Exercise Cygnus, along with expert advice, have informed our preparedness. Developments include strengthening health and care sector plans to surge and flex systems and resources beyond normal operations and stockpiling personal protective equipment specifically for an influenza pandemic.Plans for the discharge of patients who no longer need acute care follow the ‘Discharge to Assess’ model; wherever possible, people who are clinically ready will be supported to return to their place of residence, where assessment of longer-term needs will take place. The safety of residents and staff is always a priority and patients should not be discharged unless it is clinically safe to do so.COVID-19 hospital discharge service requirements was published on 19 March 2020. These requirements follow the ‘Discharge to Assess’ model. A copy is attached.



COVID-19_hospital_discharge_service_requirements.p
(PDF Document, 919.95 KB)

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the best types of materials to be used when making a face mask at home to help combat the spread of COVID-19.

lord bethell: The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies considered the very limited evidence available on the use of face coverings and advised that there was some positive benefit for reducing the transmission of COVID-19. However, the main ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are social distancing and washing hands regularly.The Government is now advising wearing a face covering in situations where it is difficult to manage social distancing and there may be close contact with people the wearer would not usually meet. Guidance on how to wear and make a cloth face covering was published on 11 May in an online only format on GOV.UK.This guidance refers to the use of cotton fabric, which is consistent with the limited available scientific literature on the use of face coverings.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the study “Associations with COVID-19 hospitalisation amongst 406,793 adults: the UK Biobank prospective cohort study.”

lord bethell: The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is responsible for ensuring that timely and coordinated scientific advice is made available to decision-makers, to support United Kingdom cross-Government decisions. In fulfilling this role, SAGE considers a wide range scientific evidence. This paper has not been considered by SAGE, but SAGE members may consider a range of evidence in their work.

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 5 March (HC Deb, cols. 1078–1079), what assessment they have made of the success of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) 2030 project in accelerating the implementation of strong tobacco control policies and advancing sustainable development in low-and middle-income countries; whether, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the countries participating in the FCTC 2030 project will be given more time to implement the project; and whether official development funds will be made available beyond 2021 to support low-and middle-income countries to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

lord bethell: As a world leader in tobacco control, the Government is continuing to deliver its commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 2030 project. The countries receiving support continue to make good progress in strengthening their tobacco control measures.The five-year project is in its final year and scheduled to end in March 2021. Year 5 (2020/21) objectives have been set and the project delivery revised to take account of the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.No decision has been made on whether Official Development Assistance funding will be made available to support the project beyond the original commitment of March 2021.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the results of the tests carried out on personal protection equipment held in the national pandemic stock that had expired on or before 30 January to ensure that such equipment remained fit for purpose.

lord bethell: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in England, we held around 50,000 pallets of medicines and consumables, including personal protective equipment (PPE), to enable us to respond to a United Kingdom pandemic, with the devolved administrations holding their own stockpiles. About 25,000 of those pallets held PPE and hygiene products.Stocks of facemasks and FFP3 respirators along with other items of PPE are stored in controlled and monitored conditions and this means that stocks are more likely to be fit for use beyond normal expiry dates.In line with Health and Safety Executive advice, facemasks and FFP3 respirators are independently tested to ascertain whether their shelf life can be extended.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

lord skidelsky: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health benefitsof wearing protective masks in public; what different types of protective masks they have considered; and for each of those types of masks, what assessment they have made of the change to their health benefits when social contact is at (1) two metres, (2) one metre, and (3) zero metres.

lord bethell: The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies considered the very limited evidence available on the use of face coverings and advised that there was some positive benefit for reducing the transmission of COVID-19. However, the main ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are social distancing and washing hands regularly.The Government is now advising wearing a face covering in situations where it is difficult to manage social distancing and there may be close contact with people the wearer would not usually meet, such as on public transport. Guidance on how to wear and make a cloth face covering was published on 11 May in an online only format on GOV.UK. This guidance provides instruction on two methods of making a face covering.A face covering is not the same as a face mask, such as the surgical masks or respirators used as part of personal protective equipment by healthcare and other workers. In the context of use for COVID-19, a face covering simply means something which safely covers the nose and mouth area and may be as simple as a scarf or a bandana that is easily washed.No assessment has been made of the change to a face covering’s health benefit when social contact is at two, one and zero metres.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase provision of services to address alcohol-related issues related to any increase in the consumption of alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: Local authorities are responsible for assessing local needs and commissioning alcohol services to meet these needs, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health England supports local authorities in this work by providing advice, guidance and data.In support of COVID-19, NHS England and NHS Improvement have published a specialty guide for alcohol dependence to support clinicians in acute and mental health trusts treating patients with alcohol dependence. Additionally, a national alcohol clinical expert network has been established to provide advice and support.

Coronavirus

baroness corston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the increased risks to maternal and infant health caused by COVID-19 (1) in the UK, and (2) around the globe.

lord bethell: The National Health Service is making arrangements to ensure the care, support and safety of women through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period to mitigate increased pressures on healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. NHS England and NHS Improvement have published a clinical guide for the temporary reorganisation of intrapartum maternity care to ensure the safety of mothers, babies and staff. To reduce the risk of infection, there are now restrictions on visitors in most hospitals and maternity units. Further, the Department is funding several studies researching the impact of COVID-19 on maternity and neonatal care to ensure rapid learning.

Coronavirus

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government with what frequency they plan to publish a national figure for R, the reproduction index for theCOVID-19virus; whether they plan to publish regularly a value for the R figure by geographic area; and whetherthey plan topublish regularly a value for the R figure for different demographic groups. [T]

lord bethell: The Government Office for Science currently publishes the latest estimate of the United Kingdom-wide range for R on a weekly basis. The current range is estimated to be 0.7-1.0 and is based on latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates. R is an average value that can vary in different parts of the country, communities, and subsections of the population. It cannot be measured directly so there is always some uncertainty around its exact value.The Government is committed to publishing the scientific evidence that has informed the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advice. These papers are being published in batches. The latest batches were released on 20 March 2020 and 5 May 2020 and the next batch will published in the coming weeks. The full list of papers released to date is available in an online only format on GOV.UK. This list will be updated to reflect papers considered at recent and future meetings.

Obesity

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what new steps they are planning to take to reduce obesity. [T]

lord bethell: The Government has outlined steps to halve childhood obesity rates by 2030 through cutting sugar from half the drinks on sale, funding more opportunities for children to exercise in schools, and working with councils to tackle child obesity locally through ground-breaking programmes.However, it is also critical to understand how different factors, including obesity, could be disproportionally impacting how people are affected by COVID-19.Public Health England launched a review into the factors affecting health outcomes from COVID-19, to include ethnicity, gender and obesity. This will be published by the end of May.As outlined in the United Kingdom Government’s Recovery Strategy, the Government is committed to investing in preventative and personalised solutions to ill-health, empowering individuals to live healthier and more active lives, which will help to mitigate pressures faced by NHS services.

Coronavirus: Vitamin D

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis they have undertaken into whether there is any correlation between COVID-19 infection and low levels of vitamin D.

lord bethell: Public Health England (PHE) is monitoring the evidence on nutrition and COVID-19 and seeking the advice of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) as appropriate. PHE is carrying out a rapid review of recent evidence relating to vitamin D and the prevention of acute respiratory tract infections for SACN to consider at its meeting in June 2020.

Coronavirus: Nitrogen Oxides

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any correlation between nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide levels in the air and COVID-19 (1) infection, and (2) death rates.

lord bethell: Currently, there is no clear evidence to suggest that nitrogen dioxide and/or nitric oxide have a direct link to the infection rate or death rate of COVID-19.Public Health England and other Government departments are reviewing and considering factors such as air pollution which may influence the health impact of COVID-19. This includes assessing whether there is any evidence of an association between exposure to gaseous pollutants or particulates and COVID-19 mortality in the United Kingdom.

Air Pollution: Health Hazards

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of human exposure to high levels of ultrafine particulate matter from air pollution on the expression of Angiotensin I converting enzyme 2.

lord bethell: Public Health England (PHE) is aware of evidence linking exposure to particulates in the air to altered expression of Angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and of emerging evidence that this is a potential mechanism by which air pollution exposure could theoretically increase the spread or severity of COVID-19.PHE is continuously reviewing and considering the evidence on the health impacts of air pollution exposure, as well as potential associations between air pollution and the health impacts of COVID-19.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Admissions

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people who are not reporting toaccident and emergency departmentswith serious non-COVID-19 related conditionsincluding (1) heart attacks, and (2) strokes; and what plans they have to encourage those with such conditions to continue to use accident and emergency services.

lord bethell: The information is not held in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Travellers

baroness whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the impact of COVID-19 on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities; and whether these communities have been included in their assessments of the effects of the virus on BAME individuals.

lord bethell: There is emerging evidence of an association between ethnicity and COVID-19 incidence and adverse health outcomes. We are working hard to understand more about COVID-19 and establish robust data on the factors impacting the number of COVID-19 cases and health outcomes for different groups within the population.As part of this, we have commissioned Public Health England to consider the impact of various factors such as ethnicity, obesity, age, gender and geographical location, where data is available.The Minister of State for Home Affairs and Housing, Communities and Local Government (the noble Lord Greenhalgh) has written to councils outlining their responsibility to support all communities, including Gypsy and Traveller communities, and to ensure they have access to water, sanitation and waste collections. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Rough Sleeping and Housing (Luke Hall MP) has written to owners and managers of caravan sites making clear they should keep sites open to allow people to remain if they would otherwise have nowhere to live.

Organs: Donors

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have made to publicise the change of law on deemed consent for organ donation.

lord bethell: In April 2019, NHS Blood and Transplant started a two-year publicity campaign to highlight the change of law. The campaign has been using a number of platforms to raise awareness, including television and radio adverts, media and press releases, social media, partner and stakeholder communications channels and posters in public and community places such as general practitioner surgeries. The campaign also targets people with different backgrounds, faith and beliefs. NHS Blood and Transplant is also planning a further burst of communications activity later this year.

Organ Transplants

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have made with the devolved administrations to facilitate cooperation and collaboration regarding organ transplants.

lord bethell: NHS Blood and Transplant works closely with each devolved administration to ensure there are fair and transparent allocation policies governing all types of organ transplant across the United Kingdom. These are based on factors such as clinical need and guaranteeing the best match between donor and recipient to help ensure the longest possible survival of the transplant. These arrangements will continue.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the COVID-19 R-number is calculated separately for transmission in (1) the community, (2) hospitals, (3) care homes, and (4) different UK regions; and if so, what plans they have to publish those separate R-numbers.

lord bethell: The Government Office for Science currently publishes the latest estimate of the United Kingdom-wide range for R on a weekly basis. Because outbreaks in care homes, hospitals and the community are interlinked, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and its subgroups do not calculate them separately. The current range is estimated to be 0.7-1.0 and is based on latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates.The Government is committed to publishing the scientific evidence that has informed the SAGE’s advice. These papers are being published in batches. The latest batches were released on 20 May and 22 May and the next batch will be published in due course. The full list of papers reviewed to date is available in an online only format on GOV.UK. This list will be updated to reflect papers considered at recent and future meetings.

Palantir: Data Protection

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there has been a written contract, or other legal act, as required by the Information Commissioner’s Office, between Palantir Technologies UK and the Department of Health and Social Care, governing the processing of personal data by Palantir Technologies UK; and if so, what plans they have to publish that contract for public scrutiny.

lord bethell: Palantir has been contracted by NHS England to work on the NHS Data Store. The contract will be published in due course.

Palantir: Data Protection

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Data Protection Impact Assessments, required under data protection legislation, or any other impact assessments have been carried out on the processing of personal health data by Palantir Technologies UK; whether the Information Commissioner’s Office or other regulatory bodies have been notified of such impact assessments; and what plans they have to publish any such impact assessments for public scrutiny.

lord bethell: A Data Protection Impact Assessment has been carried out for the NHS Data Store and is being published in due course by NHS England.NHS England and the Department have been working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office during the COVID-19 crisis.

Hydroxychloroquine: Procurement

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are purchasing hydroxychloroquine and if so, for what purpose; and what is the total cost ofthe purchase ofhydroxychloroquine to date.

lord bethell: Clinical trials are currently under way to assess whether existing medicines are safe and effective for treating COVID-19, with more than 10 drugs being tested in the United Kingdom in this way, including hydroxychloroquine. In order to support a number of those trials, there are centrally procured and managed supplies of hydroxychloroquine.The Department is also securing additional supplies of a number of medicines as part of our COVID-19 response, which could be deployed for population use if required and considered safe and effective to do so. We continue to review supply requirements as further evidence becomes available. To date, we have placed orders for hydroxychloroquine worth around £5 million, of which medicine to the value of £1.9 million has already been delivered (exclusive of VAT).

NHS: Computer Software

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to measure the success of the NHSX contact tracing application being trialled on the Isle of Wight.

lord bethell: The Isle of Wight phase was intended to improve our understanding of how the different components of our COVID-19 response fit together and how parts of the healthcare system interact with each other. It was also an opportunity to test that the underlying technologies and systems work. Our evaluation of the Isle of Wight phase was designed to provide us with answers on the health behaviours of people who use the app and those who do not, the attitude of individuals to the contact tracing app and their experience of using it, how successfully the app fits in to the wider health service processes, and the app’s influence on wider health-seeking behaviours. The Government Digital Service and Natcen have been procured to survey opinions and attitudes across the Isle of Wight to the app whilst Zuhlke Engineering has been overseeing the technical activities and deliveries.

Protective Clothing: Deloitte

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they used in their decision to select Deloitte for the procurement of personal protective equipment.

lord bethell: Deloitte is providing operational support for the procurement process of personal protective equipment (PPE) from existing and new manufacturers who can assist in scaling-up regulatory-approved PPE resources within the United Kingdom. As an existing professional services provider to the public sector, Deloitte’s expertise is being used to supplement in-house resource to deliver significant programmes of work, which currently includes the national response to COVID-19.Guidance on how contracting authorities should respond to COVID-19 was published on 18 March. Authorities are allowed to procure goods, services and works with extreme urgency in exceptional circumstances using regulation 32(2)(c) under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. We have also made it clear that authorities must continue to achieve value for money for taxpayers, use good commercial judgement and publish the details of any awards made, in line with Government transparency guidelines.

Organs: Donors

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the policy that deemed consent should not apply to transplants used to create Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products.

lord bethell: Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) are an exciting technology with new therapies being developed all the time. Current ATMPs use tissues and cells taken from living donors. However, it is also becoming possible to use material from deceased donors. Such ATMPs would be novel and the Government wants to ensure that under the new deemed consent arrangements for organ donation, donation of cells for ATMPs cannot happen without express consent being in place.The list of organs, tissues and cells excluded from deemed consent are set out in the Human Tissue (Permitted Material: Exceptions) (England) Regulations 2020. Any changes to the regulations would need to balance evidence, public acceptability and clinical need. Before making any changes, the Government will be guided by recommendations from NHS Blood and Transplant’s Research and Innovation in Transplant Advisory Group with advice from the Human Tissue Authority.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will implement their strategy for individual contact tracing in respect of COVID-19.

lord bethell: The Government’s new NHS Test and Trace service was launched across England on 28 May. It brings together testing, contact tracing and outbreak management into an end-to-end service. The primary objective of NHS Test and Trace is to control the rate of reproduction (R), reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

baroness thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they haveto publish the R number, the reproduction index for the COVID-19 virus, for each region of the UK. [T]

lord bethell: The Government Office for Science currently publishes the latest estimate of the United Kingdom-wide range for R on a weekly basis. The current range is estimated to be 0.7-1.0 and is based on the latest data available to determine infection and transmission rates.The Government is committed to publishing the scientific evidence that has informed the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advice. These papers are being published in batches. The latest batches were released on 20 May and 22 May and the next batch will be published in due course. The full list of papers reviewed to date is available in an online only format on the GOV.UK page, ‘The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE): Coronavirus (COVID-19) response’. This list will be updated to reflect papers considered at recent and future meetings.

Department for International Development

Syria: Coronavirus

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relative burden falling on (1) NGOs, and (2) the Syrian government and its agencies, in managing the COVID-19 crisis in Syria, including in respect of the size of the (a) populations, and (b) geographic areas, they are supporting.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: In May 2020, the UN launched an appeal of $384 million to provide a multi sector response to the COVID-19 pandemic (health and non-health sectors) across the whole of Syria. There are currently 58 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Syrian Government-controlled areas, with three deaths. There have also been unconfirmed reports of infections in North West Syria, whilst the Self Administration governing North East Syria have confirmed six cases.The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on 19 May that despite these numbers, a risk of a wider spread is ever present and called for essential, sustained and impeded humanitarian access. The WHO has warned of an impending ‘explosion’ of cases and a possibly significant outbreak that will be difficult for the already weakened health system to manage after years of conflict.We are particularly concerned for the welfare of Syrians in IDP camps, who due to poor, crowded living conditions, would be unable to maintain social distance. In areas not currently under Syrian Government control, it is essential that humanitarian access to life-saving services and humanitarian support is unhindered. This must be done in a way that does not increase the spread of the virus, including through support for renewal of the UN Security Council resolution on cross-border humanitarian assistance.In Syria the UK is one of the leading donors supporting international efforts to deliver vital healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene activities; all of which help to mitigate the threat posed by COVID-19. The UK is monitoring the situation closely and working with humanitarian partners inside Syria to respond to the outbreak and to sustain life-saving services.

Africa: Coronavirus

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 15 May (HL4054), what provision they have made for additional aid to combat COVID-19 in Africa.

baroness sugg: We are tackling COVID-19’s direct and wide-ranging secondary impacts, and to date have committed up to £764 million of UK aid to support the global response to COVID-19. This includes UK support for the implementation of the African Union’s COVID-19 Continental Strategy. UK aid funding of £20 million will help strengthen healthcare systems and save lives in the African Union’s 55 member states by providing training for healthcare workers, supporting the deployment of African experts, and helping to tackle misinformation around COVID-19.The UK has provided public health experts to support Africa Centres for Disease Control through the Department of Health and Social Care International Health Regulations Strengthening Project and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team. DFID is rapidly adapting its bilateral programmes across Africa to help counter the health, humanitarian, and economic impacts of COVID-19, in support of the poorest people.We are seeking to ensure that the significant amounts of finance made available by International Financial Institutions targets the most vulnerable, especially women and girls, flexes to meet the short-term needs of governments, and is coordinated with the UN and other parts of the international response.

Syria: Humanitarian Aid

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the reopening of all recognised border crossings in Syria for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is lobbying for the renewal of UN Security Council Resolution 2504, permitting cross-border aid delivery into North West Syria, before its expiry on 10 July. We are regularly raising our view at UN fora, and are using bilateral meetings to encourage other donors to support this position. It is essential that humanitarian actors continue to have the unhindered access they need to address severe needs.Additionally, the loss of Yaroubiya crossing in January has created several critical gaps in the North East Syria healthcare response, which have not been filled by UN cross-line aid delivery from Damascus. This is particularly concerning in light of COVID-19, and we are therefore lobbying for the reinstatement of Yaroubiya crossing. Similarly, we are raising this at meetings involving the UN and other donors, and will continue to push for cross-line and cross-border aid delivery in Northern Syria.

International Assistance: Coronavirus

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Stop TB Partnership's recent report on the impact of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis services; and what support they intend to provide to the Global Fund's COVID-19 Response Mechanism to help countries respond to COVID-19and mitigate the impacts on HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes.

baroness sugg: The UK Government is concerned about the indirect impacts of COVID-19 on other health priorities, including increased rates of HIV, TB and malaria. The Stop TB Partnership’s rapid assessment of COVID-19 and the TB response gives helpful insights into short-term impacts. The modelling report co-commissioned by the Stop TB Partnership outlines longer-term impacts, suggesting that disruptions caused by COVID-19 could lead to an additional 6.3 million TB cases and 1.4 million TB deaths between 2020 and 2025. The findings of both reports are concerning. The UK Government is taking action, including through support to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism, which we are funding through our £1.2 billion contribution to the Fifth Replenishment of the Global Fund. Through our multilateral partnerships with organisations like the WHO, and our regional and national programmes, the UK Government also supports developing countries to make their domestic health systems, including their TB programmes, stronger and more resilient.

Department for Education

Home Education

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of children without access to (1) laptops, (2) reliable internet connections and (3) other equipment necessary for them to participate in remote learning.

baroness berridge: We are constantly reviewing the needs of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children to ensure they get the support they need at this time.The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education. We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examination in Year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. We are also providing 4G wireless routers to care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged Year 10 pupils who do not have sufficient internet connections.To support householders who face challenges accessing an internet connection, the government has brokered an agreement with all the major telecoms companies aimed at protecting the most vulnerable, as well as those who may become vulnerable due to COVID-19. We are also working to remove data charges for educational resources for families who rely on 4G.For those in rural areas or without a connection, schools will be able to draw on support from the BBC which is broadcasting lessons on television. Some of the BBC educational content is offline, via the red button, which disadvantaged pupils without digital devices or connectivity will still be able to accessSchools may also choose to draw on the many resources offers which have been made by publishers across the country. The department has published an initial list of high quality online educational resources, which have been identified by some of the country’s leading educational experts to help pupils to learn at home. The list is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources.

Ethnic Groups: Coronavirus

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government what considerations they have made of BAME households in developing plans to re-open schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: We have developed plans to open schools to more children and young people in line with our responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty. This means we have had due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act; advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic, including race, and persons who do not share it; and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.We are aware that there is emerging evidence that BAME individuals can be more severely affected than their peers by the virus, though this is not yet fully understood. On 4 May, Public Health England launched a review into the factors affecting health outcomes from COVID-19, to include ethnicity, gender and obesity. This will be published by the end of May and will help to inform our approach. In the meantime, schools should be especially sensitive to the needs and worries of BAME members of staff, BAME parents and BAME pupils, and consider if any additional measures or reasonable adjustments may need to be put in place to mitigate concerns.

Education: Coronavirus

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government what role will testing and contact-tracing play in education; whether the systematic testing of staff and pupils at schools play a role in keeping effective reproduction number of coronavirus below 1; and what PPE is appropriate for use across the variety of school settings in view of theexpected levels of prevalence of the virus.

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they will provide on parameters for (1) appropriate physical distancing, (2) levels of social mixing, and (3) appropriate use of PPE, in schools.

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be comprehensive access to regular testing for children and staff to ensure that schools and colleges do not become hotspots for COVID-19.

baroness berridge: On 12 May, the department published comprehensive guidance to schools which included advice on protective measures and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings.On 18 May 2020, the Government announced that with immediate effect, all UK citizens over the age of 5 who experience symptoms are eligible to be tested.To support schools in the return of a wider group of children and young people from 1 June, they will have access to testing if they display symptoms, as will any symptomatic members of their household.The government has launched a new national test and trace programme. This will include more traditional methods of contact tracing if a child, young person or parent tests positive. This could include, for example, direct discussion with parents and schools or colleges on recent contacts.The majority of staff in education, childcare and children’s social care settings will not require PPE beyond what they would normally need for their work, even if they are not always able to maintain distance of 2 metres from others.

Teachers: Coronavirus

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to impose sanctions on any teacher who does not (1) return to teach in schools once it has been deemed safe to do, and (2) teach children online from home if they cannot attend schools; and if so, whether such sanctions will include the suspension of pay and pension contributions.

baroness berridge: The department does not have any plans to impose sanctions on individual teachers regarding their attendance or performance, as these are employment matters for employees and their relevant employers to resolve on an individual case by case basis.The Prime Minister announced on 10 May that as a result of the huge efforts everyone has made to adhere to strict social distancing measures, the transmission rate of COVID-19 has decreased. We anticipate that with further progress we may be able to welcome back more children to early years, school and further education settings from the week commencing 1 June, provided that the 5 key tests set by government justify the changes at the time, including that the rate of infection is decreasing and the enabling programmes set out in the roadmap are operating effectively.As a result, we are asking schools, colleges and childcare providers to plan on this basis, ahead of confirmation that these tests are met. Schools, colleges, and childcare providers should refer to our guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings.Any settings operating between now and 1 June should read that guidance in conjunction with Actions for schools during the COVID-19 outbreak, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing.

Schools: Coronavirus

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they haveto publish scientific evidence that schools are safe to re-open before pupils are allowed to return in June.

baroness berridge: The government is committed to publishing the scientific evidence that has informed SAGE’s advice, including evidence related to schools. These papers are being published in batches. The full list of papers released to date is available by following the link below. This list will be updated to reflect papers considered at recent and future meetings, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response.

Children's Commissioner for England: Public Appointments

lord farmer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the appointment process for the Children's Commissioner for England; and when they expect to begin this process for the next Commissioner.

lord farmer: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the term of office for the current Children's Commissioner for England is due to end; and whether they anticipate an extension to that term.

baroness berridge: The Children Act 2004 states that the Children’s Commissioner is to be appointed by the Secretary of State for Education. The Children’s Commissioner post is a Significant Public Appointment and therefore follows the process and requirements set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments.Officials in the Department for Education have already started planning for the recruitment of the next Children’s Commissioner. We will be monitoring closely the current situation with the COVID-19 outbreak to see when would be most appropriate to launch the campaign.The current Children’s Commissioner’s term in office will conclude at the end of February 2021. The Children’s Commissioner maximum term in office is six years as set out in primary legislation – the Children Act 2004, as amended by the Children and Families Act. An extension to the term of the Children’s Commissioner is not permitted under the current legislation.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the last statutory review of the benefit cap under section 96A(1) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 took place; whenthey planto conduct the next review;and what factors determine when the review takes place during a parliament.

baroness stedman-scott: The Secretary of State has a statutory obligation to review the levels of the benefit cap at least once in each Parliament unless an early election is called, as it was last year. A review will take place at an appropriate point in the future. When the Secretary of State decides to undertaking that review she will consider the national economic situation and any other matters that she considers relevant.

Social Security Benefits

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the independent evaluation of the benefit cap.

baroness stedman-scott: We are aiming to publish the results of the two strands of benefit cap evaluation by Summer 2020. We are still hoping to meet that timescale although given the current COVID-19, we advise that there could be further delay, we will endeavour to confirm a publication timetable as soon as possible.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byBaroness Stedman-Scott on 13 May (HL Deb, cols 677–8), what estimate they have made of the proportion of new Universal Credit claimants since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic who will be exempt from the benefit cap for the nine month grace period; whether they plan to raise the current level of the cap during the pandemic; and if not, why not.

baroness stedman-scott: Information relating to Universal Credit claimants who will be exempt from the benefit cap for the nine-month grace period is not readily available, to provide it would incur disproportionate costs. There are currently no plans to change the current benefit cap levels. The Government has quickly and effectively introduced over £6.5bn of measures that benefit those facing the most financial disruption during the current situation. DWP is experiencing significant increased demand as such the safety and stability of the benefits system must be prioritised.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Hedges and Ditches

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on (1) the environment, and (2) road safety, of the cutting of roadside verges and hedges in English local authority areas since 2015; and whether they have plans for a review of these practices.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: Our roadside verges and hedges can provide a rich refuge for plants and for the pollinators and other wildlife they support. The responsibility for managing England’s strategic road network falls to Highways England and the local road network to local authorities. All public bodies, including Highways England and local authorities, have a legal duty under the 2006 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act to have regard to conserving biodiversity when exercising their functions. Management of road verges, hedgerows and other green spaces to support wildflowers, pollinators and other wildlife is one way in which public bodies can discharge this duty, although those public bodies also have to ensure public safety. The UK Roads Liaison Group’s Code of Practice on Well Managed Highway Infrastructure recommends that authorities manage highway verges, trees and landscaped areas with regard to their nature conservation value and biodiversity principles as well as whole-life costing, highway safety and serviceability. Many public bodies are already taking action to enhance biodiversity along public roads. Highways England’s Biodiversity Action Plan sets out its approach to promoting biodiversity while balancing this with safety on the strategic road network. A number of local authorities are also working with conservation groups such as the local Wildlife Trust to plan and implement biodiversity enhancements alongside roads. Defra, alongside our external partners and other Government departments, regularly reviews the evidence on the value to wildlife of roadside verges and hedges, and strongly encourages positive management that balances wildlife and safety.

Cabinet Office

Disease Control

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Agnew of Oulton on 13 May (HL3564),whetherany single authority or body was responsible for monitoring and assessing individualdepartmental plans to ascertain the level of national readiness for a pandemic; and if not, why not.

lord true: Planning for a pandemic inevitably engages the work of many different departments. Each department is responsible for ensuring its own preparedness, and that of its relevant sectors, to manage the impacts of a pandemic. The Cabinet Office's role includes coordinating the regular assessment of the UK’s overall risk landscape for both internal and public purposes, the Resilience Capabilities Programme, managing central government response including by convening COBR, providing crisis management training through the Emergency Planning College, and working with Departments to test emergency response plans.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Voluntary Work: Coronavirus

baroness crawley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that volunteerswho are providing support for isolated people can continue to provide that support throughout the recoveryphaseof the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: There has been an overwhelming response from the public with over 3 million people stepping up to volunteer to help those most in need. Volunteers across the country are playing a vital role in the response to COVID-19, including supporting vulnerable people in the community who are isolating, and complementing the delivery of public services. There are over 589,000 approved NHS Volunteer Responders available in England to help with food delivery, transporting medicines and friendly phone calls, a staggering response to the call to action to support the NHS. The programme supports a flexible model of volunteering, with volunteers able to decide when they are on and off duty, to fit task based volunteering around other commitments and work. The Government welcomes this support and is working closely with the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership to match the country’s strong base of willing volunteers with priority needs. This includes specific work examining how changing restrictions during the recovery phase may impact on volunteers and volunteering. The Government is also working closely with the voluntary sector to ensure that volunteer mobilisation schemes are consistently rewarding, effective and safe for all those involved.

Press Freedom

lord foulkes of cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 7 May (HL3380), and following reports of threats to journalists in Northern Ireland, when they expect to (1) set up the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, and (2) publish their National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists.

baroness barran: Journalists play a vital role in our society and must be free at all times to do their jobs without fear of violence. The Minister for Media and Data made this clear recently when he signed the public statement issued by the National Union of Journalists, calling for the freedom of the press to be respected and protected. As he said, “Journalism is a bedrock of democracy and those who are keeping our communities informed and holding the powerful to account must not be intimidated or threatened as they carry out their work. We stand with journalists and will do all we can to support them in doing their jobs without fear or favour." Plans for the National Committee and the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists are currently being developed, but have been necessarily delayed as the government turns its attention to supporting newspapers through the current Covid-19 crisis. However, the committee and the action plan remain priorities for us and we hope to be able to make an announcement soon.

Broadband: Urban Areas

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they provide to broadband consumers in urban areas who are not able to access superfast broadband from Openreach.

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they provide to broadband consumers who are unable to access (1) fibre-to-the-premises, or (2) fibre-to-the-cabinet, broadband from Openreach in urban areas where Openreach has no plans to make such services available.

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all consumers with exchange-only broadband connections are able to access superfast broadband.

baroness barran: According to Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations report, more than 98% of premises in urban areas can access superfast broadband. The Government’s Superfast programme has been instrumental in reaching this level of coverage, with £1.8 billion invested to date. The programme is still ongoing, and future delivery will further increase superfast coverage. For consumers unable to access download speeds of at least 10 megabits per second, including those on exchange only lines, the Government has legislated to introduce the broadband Universal Service Obligation, which provides households with a legal right to request this minimum speed up to a reasonable cost threshold of £3,400 per premise. In addition, the Government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit-capable broadband as soon as possible and has already invested in stimulating demand for gigabit broadband, including in urban areas. The £200 million Local Full Fibre Networks programme has funded projects in urban areas such as Belfast and London, for example. The Government has also announced that it will invest a further £5 billion to provide gigabit-capable networks in the hardest to parts of the UK. This funding will focus on connecting more rural and remote areas but, alongside this, the Government is also taking action to reduce the barriers to deployment, and make it cheaper and easier for BT Openreach and other operators to roll out broadband commercially, including in urban and suburban areas. For example, we are taking the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill through Parliament, which will make it easier for network builders to access blocks of flats where there is an absent or unresponsive landlord. Finally, mobile network operators already provide 4G mobile broadband services which provide a viable alternative to superfast coverage in urban areas. In addition, according to Ofcom’s December 2019 Connected Nations report, more than 40 towns and cities already have access to even faster 5G mobile services, and the rollout has developed further since then. As part of this, the Government has allocated £200 million from 2017 to March 2022 to support the further development of 5G through its 5G Testbeds & Trials Programme, including up to £20 million in the West Midlands 5G (WM5G) Programme (over three years, to March 2022).